Ever since I can remember, I’ve been a waterproof mascara girl.  My eyelashes are stick straight and grow down, with ZERO curl…so in order to keep them curled after using an eyelash curler, I have no choice but to reach for waterproof mascara.  Last year, I was getting my eyelashes permed and I loved the effect and I was able to try out and review a whole whackload of regular mascaras for you… now that the perm is gone and I’m giving my lashes a break, I had to go back to waterproof.  So I picked up this L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara (About $6 USD / $8 CDN) because I had heard a lot of good things about it.

The Packaging

The mascara is super sleek, a matte black tube with gorgeous gold writing and cap, and a bristle brush (I’ve just never really been a fan of the plastic CoverGirl-LashBlast-type-mascara-wands).  I’d say its about a ‘medium’ sized brush, falling somewhere in between Bare Escentuals’ Flawless Definition wand and the Benefit badGAL Lash wand. It’s really the perfect size for my liking.

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara Ingredients

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara

The Product

For being a waterproof mascara, I found this formula to be quite thin and liquidy.  Usually mascaras of this type are thicker, drier and therefore easier for me to apply.  I felt like I really had to build and build this mascara to get any effect.  I also found that you really have to tilt your head back when applying it- I’ve never encountered this problem before, but as I was warned by several of you, it transfers really easily and gets just above your upper lash line when applying it if you’re not careful.

The color is gorgeous- super rich black, really couldn’t ask for a better shade.  As for it’s volumizing properties…I’ve honestly seen better. It’s a pretty good everyday mascara for something for under $10 from the drugstore…but it didn’t blow me away. I’m starting to miss my Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Lash right about now actually… but all in all its a good “every day” mascara. No crazy volume, but a good amount of color and definition.  My curl stayed all day and the best part about this mascara is how nice it is to remove.  With a little bit of my Marcelle Renforcils Lash Fortifying Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover and a little massaging, this mascara comes off nicely with no flaking.

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara Wand

Before & After

Bare Eyelashes

Wearing L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara

I’ll definitely continue to use this mascara on a daily basis, but I think I might try to look for something a little more dramatic for evening- I found that piling on the layers with this mascara just didn’t work. It got clumpy real fast- so I need a better, drier formula for the big thick lashes I’m looking for.

Summary

• Price: About $6 USD / $8 CDN
• Availability: Drugstore.com and other drugstores
• Overall: A great everyday mascara! Super black and holds a curl nicely with no flaking.  Formula is a little more thin than usual, so it’s not as insanely volumizing as I wanted, but still good for daily wear.
• Rating: A-